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Robots can be used, among a broad variety of different applications, in the textile industry to fulfill mechanically challenging tasks which common automats are not capable of. On the contrary, textile fabrics can also be integrated in robotics. Textile-based laminates can be applied as actuators; spacer fabrics can prevent robot arms from hurting men or autonomous robots from damaging themselves on difficult terrain; or as flexible sensors in soft and traditional robotics. Here, we give an overview of recent applications of textile materials in robotics and point out possible future utilization of diverse textile materials in this emerging field of research and development with increasing importance for industrial processes as well as services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robots can be used, among a broad variety of different applications, in the textile industry to fulfill mechanically challenging tasks which common automats are not capable of. On the contrary, textile fabrics can also be integrated in robotics. Textile-based laminates can be applied as actuators; spacer fabrics can prevent robot arms from hurting men or autonomous robots from damaging themselves on difficult terrain; or as flexible sensors in soft and traditional robotics. Here, we give an overview of recent applications of textile materials in robotics and point out possible future utilization of diverse textile materials in this emerging field of research and development with increasing importance for industrial processes as well as services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Radial access for percutaneous coronary intervention is associated with lower rates of access site complications and bleeding. However, elderly patients have more complex vascular anatomy and radial access may be more challenging in this population. There remains uncertainty regarding the role of radial access in elderly patients undergoing cardiac catheterization.Methods and Results: The RIVAL trial randomized patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing cardiac catheterization to radial versus femoral access. In this analysis, the rates of access site complications and access site cross-over were compared across different age groups. Among the 7,021 patients, 1035 (15%) were ≥75 years of age. Across all age categories, radial access was consistently associated with higher rates of access site cross over and lower rates of major access site complications, with no significant interaction between age and access site. Radial access was associated with lower rates of major vascular access site complications in patients ≥75 years of age (3.6% vs 6.6%; P = .03) and in patients <75 years of age (1.0% vs 3.2%; P < .001; P value for interaction = .2). The rates of access site crossover were higher with radial access among patients ≥75 (12.5% vs 2.6%; P < .001) and <75 (6.7% vs 1.9%; P < .001; P value for interaction = .9). There were no significant differences in the primary composite outcome (death, myocardial infarction, stroke or non coronary artery bypass graft major bleeding) or its individual components in either age group. In patients ≥75 years of age undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention, there was no significant difference in procedure time (120 vs 115 minutes; P = .3).Conclusions: Consistent with the overall RIVAL trial population, elderly patients undergoing cardiac catheterization have lower rates of major bleeding or access site complications and higher rates of access site crossover with radial access compared to femoral access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The authors sought to compare the radiation dose between radial and femoral access. Background Small trials have shown an increase in the radiation dose with radial compared with femoral access, but many were performed during the operators' learning curve of radial access. Methods Patients were randomized to radial or femoral access, as a part of the RIVAL (RadIal Vs. femorAL) trial (N = 7,021). Fluoroscopy time was prospectively collected in 5740 patients and radiation dose quantified as air kerma in 1,445 patients and dose-area product (DAP) in 2,255 patients. Results Median fluoroscopy time was higher with radial versus femoral access (9.3 vs. 8.0 min, p < 0.001). Median air kerma was nominally higher with radial versus femoral access (1,046 vs. 930 mGy, respectively, p = 0.051). Median DAP was not different between radial and femoral access (52.8 Gy-cm 2 vs. 51.2 Gy·cm 2 , p = 0.83). When results are stratified according to procedural volume, air kerma was increased only in the lowest tertile of radial volume centers (low 1,425 vs. 1,045 mGy, p = 0.002; middle 987 vs. 958 mGy, p = 0.597; high 652 vs. 621 mGy, p = 0.403, interaction p = 0.026). Multivariable regression showed procedural volume was the greatest independent predictor of lower air kerma dose (ratio of geometric means 0.55; 95% confidence interval 0.49 to 0.61 for highest-volume radial centers). Conclusions Radiation dose as measured by air kerma was nominally higher with radial versus femoral access, but differences were present only in lower-volume centers and operators. High-volume centers have the lowest radiation dose irrespective of which access site approach that they use. (A Trial of Trans-radial Versus Trans-femoral Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) Access Site Approach in Patients With Unstable Angina or Myocardial Infarction Managed With an Invasive Strategy [RIVAL]; NCT01014273 ) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a continuous need for new hard and superhard ( H > 40 GPa) materials for applications ranging from protective coatings for cutting tools and aerospace to automobile industries, MEMS and others. In this work nanocomposite hard coatings fabricated by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition from TiCl4/SiH4/CH4/N2/H2/Ar gas mixtures were found to possess unique properties such as superhardness, high toughness, and interesting optical properties and colors. The mechanical characteristics such as hardness and Young’s modulus were determined by depth-sensitive indentation. Film microstructure was studied by XRD, SEM, TEM, ERD-TOF, XPS, and AFM. Optical properties like color, refractive index and extinction coefficient were evaluated using combined spectrophotometry and spectroscopic ellipsometry. This multitechnique approach allowed us to determine the structure-property relationships. We have shown that nc-TiN/a-Si3N4 exhibits a hardness of 45 GPa, while the novel nc-TiCN/a-SiCN provides a hardness of 57 GPa in addition to a very high resistance to plastic deformation (1.8 GPa). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate in situ and in real-time the growth of superhard ternary nanocomposite (nc)-TiN/amorphous (a)-Si3N4 and quaternary nc-TiCxNy/a-SiCN films. Using nondestructive, noncontact spectroscopic ellipsometry and appropriate ellipsometric models, we determine the variation of optical constants, film resistivity, and electron scattering time and mean free path as a function of thickness and particle size. Based on the optical and electrical behavior, we propose a microstructural model of superhard nanocomposite films, postulating the interconnectivity between individual nanoparticles, presence of defects in the individual grains, and particle size varying in the initial stage of the film growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human body is an intricate biochemical-mechanical system, with an exceedingly precise hierarchical organization in which all components work together in harmony across a wide range of dimensions. Many fundamental biological processes take place at surfaces and interfaces (e.g., cell-matrix interactions), and these occur on the nanoscale. For this reason, current health-related research is actively following a biomimetic approach in learning how to create new biocompatible materials with nanostructured features. The ultimate aim is to reproduce and enhance the natural nanoscale elements present in the human body and to thereby develop new materials with improved biological activities. Progress in this area requires a multidisciplinary effort at the interface of biology, physics, and chemistry. In this Review, the major techniques that have been adopted to yield novel nanostructured versions of familiar biomaterials, focusing particularly on metals, are presented and the way in which nanometric surface cues can beneficially guide biological processes, exerting influence on cellular behavior, is illustrated.

Surface modification of titanium and its alloys is of great importance for their practical application as biomedical implants. We have studied and compared assembly of dodecylphosphoric acid on commercial polished and on nanostructured titanium disks. The latter were produced by chemical etching that created nanoscale pits of typical size of about 20 nm. Enhanced hydrophobicity and high molecular density were obtained after functionalization of the nanotextured substrate. Aging tests showed a lifetime of the organic films of about one month in phosphate buffer. The samples were characterized by means of infrared spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, ellipsometry, and atomic force and scanning tunneling microscopies.